LNG

May 2 (LNGJ) - DNV, the European maritime classification society, said a total of 23 new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were registered in April 2024. A total of 12 of the 23 newbuilds were methanol-fuelled ships, seven were for LNG-fuelled vessels and four for ships to be powered by ammonia.

   “All of the methanol orders come from the tanker segment, where the uptake of alternative fuels has been low up to now. The momentum for ammonia continues,” DNV explained. “Following a quiet month in March, these strong figures confirm the overall trend of a steady increase in new orders for alternative fuels,” it added. A total of 93 new orders have been added to DNV’s alterative-fuelled vessels data base in the first four months of 2024.

European maritime classification society DNV said that liquefied natural gas-fuelled vessels led the way among the 275 newbuild orders made during 2022.

European maritime classification society DNV said that ship owners placed orders for 14 liquefied natural gas-powered vessels in March 2022, mostly for containerships and car carriers even as LNG bunkering fuel prices continued to increase.

European classification society DNV has granted an initial approval to Norwegian company Passer Marine for the development of a new LNG fuel tank insulation system suitable for Type-B fuel tanks.

The new Passer Marine concept is designed for prismatic Type-B LNG tanks, which according to International Maritime Organisation rules require a partial secondary barrier.

The Passer Marine equipment includes a leakage detection system capable of safely managing and containing fuel leaks.

“The system we have developed is cost-effective and production-friendly,” said Svein Konradsen, Chief Operating officer of Passer Marine.

“The pandemic has been challenging for many companies and for the development of this particular design,” explained Konradsen.

“The required testing has been difficult to finalize due to interruptions and limited possibilities to travel, but finally we have been able to submit the necessary documentation which I am very pleased to say was accepted by DNV,” he stated.

Konradsen said the Approval In Principle (AiP) from DNV was a boost for the company in the storage tanks equipment market. 

As LNG-fueled vessels are increasingly being deployed for deep-sea shipping, fuel tank sizes need to increase from 300-1,000 cubic metres of fuel capacity to up to 10,000-20,000 cubic metre, which leaves less room for cargo.

“As such, there is increased industry interest in alternative fuel tanks, known as Type-B, which are prismatic in shape and more volume efficient than traditional cylindrical Type-C tanks,” explained Passer Marine, which has offices in Norway, Lithuania and China.

“Between 95 and 99 percent of LNG-fueled ships contain Type-C fuel tanks, but many newbuilds on order contain Type-B specifications,” the company added.

Monika Johannessen, a Head of Department at Hamburg, Germany-based DNV Maritime, explained the thinking behind the initial approval of the Passer Marine tanks insulation.

“There are several insulation concepts under development that provide an integrated secondary barrier and leakage detection system, but there are few proven systems available on the market,” said Johannessen.

“We are pleased that Passer Marine has chosen DNV to pursue verification for this innovative concept and look forward to receiving the documentation for full approval,” she stated.

An AiP is widely recognized in the industry as an early phase verification level for new design concepts or for existing designs in new applications.

The approval issued by DNV is an independent assessment of a concept according to an agreed requirement framework within DNV rules, notations and regulations.

European classification society and risk management firm DNV GL will combine its current oil and gas, power and renewables businesses into one new division called Energy Systems from February while changing its name to simply DNV from March amid a takeover of a US firm.

DNV GL’s overhaul comes after a strategic review and named its US acquisition as engineering consultancy Energy and Resource Solutions Inc. (ERS), which DNV GL said would increase energy management capabilities.

“Energy Systems, which will start operating from February 01, 2021, will provide certification, advisory and digital monitoring services to the entire energy value chain,” stated DNV GL. The firm's Maritime division deals with most LNG issues.

Ditlev Engel, Chief Executive of the current Energy business area since 2016, will lead the new business division, which will consist of approximately 4 000 “energy experts”, making it the world's leading resource for independent certifications.

DNV GL said its move would better reflect the emerging energy future and the energy mix.

“The creation of Energy Systems is our response to a rapidly changing energy market in search for deeper decarbonization,” said Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of DNV GL.

“We want to enable our customers to tackle the energy transition - faster. By combining our expertise, we will better serve customers operating in, and entering the energy market. This new structure will help us serve all players in the energy market,” added Eriksen.

Eriksen also stated that while renewable energy was increasing market share, DNV GL would continue to work with the oil and gas sector as it refocuses on decarbonization.

On its acquisition of US-based consultancy ERS, DNV GL was bring onboard “80 experts” and they will be an integrated part of DNV GL.

“Given the speed of the energy transition, it is natural that we look outside our own organization for acquisition opportunities,” said Eriksen,

“The domain expertise and digital first approach demonstrated by ERS is aligned with our vision and services, and I am sure our customers in North America and beyond will be delighted we have even more experts in our ranks,” stated the Group CEO.

DNV GL still expects natural gas to become the single largest energy source by the middle of the decade, while hydrogen, ammonia and carbon capture and storage will be important tools in the low carbon toolkit.

DNV GL’s Energy Systems CEO Engel said joining forces gives the class society the size to work with the key industry players to help scale green energy technology and optimize safety from production to consumption.

“I see a greater willingness amongst policy makers and companies to speed up the decarbonization of the sector and we at DNV GL are ready to play our part, so we can tackle the needed energy transformation much faster,” said Engel.

European classification society DNV GL and the Finnish Meyer Turku Shipyard signed a contract to class Royal Caribbean International’s new class of vessels mainly powered by liquefied natural gas.